Dandie Dinmont

[jeemes 4,484]

Just curious,has anyone used a Dandie or seen one bushing?

[Hot Meat 3,109]

If only ever seen 1 in flesh, and you'd lose it down a rabbit burrow lol funny wee things tho, guy that owned it said it was a pet but it had some nose on it

[Tiercel 6,986]

A mate of mine when we were kids had one that was crossed with a JR. Snappy little bugger, but sh!t hot on rats. He used to live about 100 yards from the river and the dog would take himself down the river every day chasing the rats.

 

That was the first dog I seen doing the flick and snap. he would grab hold of a rat where ever he could, flick it in the air then grab and shake as the rat was coming down, there were not many alive when they touched the floor.

 

TC

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

I grew up, through my earliest days, with a sort of awed fascination for the DDT.

 

I think it was my Grandmother who spoke of knowing one, back in Her day ..... Vicious, untrustworthy little shit too, by all (of her) accounts.

 

How many of the great unwashed now say that of JRTs? Sorry. Today, of course, it's APBTs . SBTs. What ever, half real, Dog the masses take on as the latest fad.

 

They get mass bred. Saturate society. Shit Dogs find even more shit owners and the blue touch paper starts to fizzle.

 

Interesting though: That the DDT was the Terrible Terrier of, I dunno? Century and half ago? Fifty years ago, a SBT was rocking horse .....

 

There's a nice little study in there. Somewhere .....

 

[jeemes 4,484]

are they dog aggressive?

[Hot Meat 3,109]

The one I met wasn't, but that's only 1

[clipo 871]

up there with all the other scottish terrier breeds im afraid...........show bred shite..........may as well try a westie or a skye terrier...........shame as i bet they were handy little dogs in their day........

[scrishton 5]

I have a house full of them.

 

Mine are mostly rescues, older Dandies that need rehoming. They come with their own ways, and I try to let them continue as they were. Never show mine, though one of them was a champion in her younger days - she's a total wimp.

 

I have had one that would have been a great worker. Always trying to get down rabbit holes, though she was a bit big for that. I have seen her go to ground after fox, and had to be careful to prevent her going after badgers.

 

Dandies these days tend to be too big as workers - the smaller ones were generally the most useful. Hunting with dogs is pretty much banned in the UK these days, but I know of a few people who did use Dandies as working dogs way back when, and I'm told it was best to have a variety of sizes to send to ground together. The smaller ones to flush out the quarry, the bigger ones to finish the job.

 

As recently as the 1950s they were still occasionally used. Alf Rhodes was a noted terrier man in the North of England, and he reckoned that the Dandie was the best all rounder.

 

Going further back, they were apparently used during the war years for mine clearance - unbelievable sense of smell, or even some sixth sense, which could find mines that had been thoroughly de-smelled and hidden. And the Dandie stubborn determination to keep at it until they had finished the job. In this case, not a good evolutionary trait!

 

Much further back, the border gypsies - most famously William 'Piper' Allan - used Dandies (though this was before the name was coined in 1814!) to hunt badgers and otters. The aristocracy hired his services to clear the otters from their favourite fishing grounds. Allan was well paid for his services, enjoyed the sport, and got to keep the otter pelts and meat. So when Lord Ravensworth asked to buy one his dogs at any price, he replied that his whole estate wouldn't buy the dog. Later the Earl of Northumberland offered him a farm in return for one of his dogs. He did consider this for a day or so, but decided a travelling gypsy had no use for a farm.

 

Back to the modern day, Dandies do make great companions. Generally quiet around the home (but wish someone would explain that to Ziggy!), and good with children and visitors. Deep bark that's much bigger than the dog. Mostly healthy, live to about 15, and stay active most of that time. But very hard to find. Only 104 born in the UK last year.

 

 

 

[jeemes 4,484]

up there with all the other scottish terrier breeds im afraid...........show bred shite..........may as well try a westie or a skye terrier...........shame as i bet they were handy little dogs in their day........

This is the bushing section though mate,not earth work.

[foresterj 1,096]

Dandie/Skye type thing c.1910

[clipo 871]

 

up there with all the other scottish terrier breeds im afraid...........show bred shite..........may as well try a westie or a skye terrier...........shame as i bet they were handy little dogs in their day........

This is the bushing section though mate,not earth work.

 

trust me i no that mate.......

[clipo 871]

I have a house full of them.

 

Mine are mostly rescues, older Dandies that need rehoming. They come with their own ways, and I try to let them continue as they were. Never show mine, though one of them was a champion in her younger days - she's a total wimp.

 

I have had one that would have been a great worker. Always trying to get down rabbit holes, though she was a bit big for that. I have seen her go to ground after fox, and had to be careful to prevent her going after badgers.

 

Dandies these days tend to be too big as workers - the smaller ones were generally the most useful. Hunting with dogs is pretty much banned in the UK these days, but I know of a few people who did use Dandies as working dogs way back when, and I'm told it was best to have a variety of sizes to send to ground together. The smaller ones to flush out the quarry, the bigger ones to finish the job.

 

As recently as the 1950s they were still occasionally used. Alf Rhodes was a noted terrier man in the North of England, and he reckoned that the Dandie was the best all rounder.

 

Going further back, they were apparently used during the war years for mine clearance - unbelievable sense of smell, or even some sixth sense, which could find mines that had been thoroughly de-smelled and hidden. And the Dandie stubborn determination to keep at it until they had finished the job. In this case, not a good evolutionary trait!

 

Much further back, the border gypsies - most famously William 'Piper' Allan - used Dandies (though this was before the name was coined in 1814!) to hunt badgers and otters. The aristocracy hired his services to clear the otters from their favourite fishing grounds. Allan was well paid for his services, enjoyed the sport, and got to keep the otter pelts and meat. So when Lord Ravensworth asked to buy one his dogs at any price, he replied that his whole estate wouldn't buy the dog. Later the Earl of Northumberland offered him a farm in return for one of his dogs. He did consider this for a day or so, but decided a travelling gypsy had no use for a farm.

 

Back to the modern day, Dandies do make great companions. Generally quiet around the home (but wish someone would explain that to Ziggy!), and good with children and visitors. Deep bark that's much bigger than the dog. Mostly healthy, live to about 15, and stay active most of that time. But very hard to find. Only 104 born in the UK last year.

 

P1000342.jpg

 

 

occasionally used 65 years ago........

[tinytiger 840]

saw a couple of them at a show in clonmel a few years back,,they certainly have the tools to do a bit of damage-pity theres no one using them as earth dogs anymore

[jeemes 4,484]

saw a couple of them at a show in clonmel a few years back,,they certainly have the tools to do a bit of damage-pity theres no one using them as earth dogs anymore

Do you mean teeth or genral appearance?

[tinytiger 840]

big teeth,strong jaws,small enough to get to ground